From 27 to 31 January 2025, the Counter-Improvised Explosive Devices Centre of Excellence (C-IED COE) conducted a series of activities at the “La Algameca” Naval Base in Cartagena, aimed at strengthening the Document and Media Exploitation (DOMEX) capabilities of the Spanish Navy.
DOMEX is a critical technical exploitation discipline focused on the collection, analysis, and exploitation of information contained in seized documents and electronic media—including computers, mobile phones, storage devices, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The goal is to extract actionable intelligence and share it with intelligence and operations personnel to support the broader intelligence cycle.
Given the increasing importance of DOMEX in modern conflicts, the C-IED COE previously conducted several Defence Capacity Building (DCB) activities in 2024 in countries such as Germany and Hungary. This initiative in Cartagena marked the first DOMEX activity of 2025 and included participation from various Spanish Navy units.
The programme featured a series of theoretical and practical sessions covering document exploitation (DOCEX), media exploitation (MEDEX), mobile phone exploitation (CELLEX), and UAV exploitation. Participants utilized advanced digital forensic tools to enhance their skills across each domain. The final two days involved a practical exercise, during which attendees executed the complete technical exploitation process—from evidence collection to data analysis and interpretation.
This activity provided participants with vital new competencies that will significantly enhance their units’ ability to extract and analyse intelligence in operational contexts, directly supporting the military decision-making process.
Through such initiatives, the C-IED COE reaffirms its commitment to education and training, its readiness to collaborate with partner units, and its role as a leading reference in the global effort to counter the networks behind the use of improvised explosive devices.
